With a AA battery rated at 2000mAH, it can power the circuit forĢ000mAH/200mA= 10hours. So, for example, let's say there is a circuit that consumes 200mA per hour. D cells provide current for a longer period of time than all others. Reason, D cells are physically bigger and are more expensive than C or AA batteries. A AA battery may have a mAH of 2000, while a D cell may have 10,000mAH. So batteries with higher mAH's are more desirable, because they can last for a longer period of time, since they have a higher current capacity.ĪA batteries usually have the shortest mAH life, while D cells have much greater mAH. The circuit's power requirements, how much current the circuit demands.īeing that the mAH is the battery's life in terms of current capacity, the more mAH's means the longer a battery can last, or the more current it can supply in a circuit.

The mAH specification shows how long a battery will be able to last in a circuit, given Thus, our same example, of a 1900mAH battery can be used in the following ways, The product of the current consumed times the number of hours in use must equal Or for other circuits, it can supply 190mA of current for 10 hours, since 190*10=1900. In this case, the battery supplies 380mA forĥ hours, since 380*5=1900. Usually a circuit will not demand 1900 mAH of current all at once for operation.Ī circuit may instead only need 380mA of current for operation. Again, as an example, a 1900mAH battery can supply 1900mA of current to a circuitįor one hour, and then it will have used all of its charge. Many commonly available size D rechargeable cells are actually sub-C cells in a D-sized holder.Again, mAH, iillliampere-hours, show how many milliamperes of current the battery can This effect is generally less pronounced in cells with NiMH chemistry and hardly at all with NiCd. Duracell brand rates its alkaline D cell performance as approximately 20,000 mAh at 25 mA draw, but about 10,000 mAh at 500 mA draw. Names Common Name / Type of this batteryĪ battery's capacity depends upon its cell chemistry and current draw. The overall length is 61.5 millimeters (2.42 inches). ĭ, C, AA, AAA, AAAA and 9-Volt batteries Dimensions and capacity ĭ batteries have nominal diameter of 33.2 ± 1 millimeters (1.3 inches).

In 2008, Swiss purchases of D batteries amounted to 3.4% of primary and 1.4% of secondary (rechargeable) sales. In 2007, D batteries accounted for 8% of alkaline primary battery sales (numerically) in the US. Navy, leading to confusion with the smaller C cell battery (BA-42). During World War II, it was designated the Type C battery by the U.S. military designation for this battery has been BA-30 since sometime before World War II. Before smaller cells became more common, D cells were widely known as flashlight batteries. The National Carbon Company introduced the first D cell in 1898. Its terminal voltage and capacity depend upon its cell chemistry.

A D cell may be either rechargeable or non-rechargeable. D cells are typically used in high current drain applications, such as in large flashlights, radio receivers, and transmitters, and other devices that require an extended running time. A D cell is cylindrical with an electrical contact at each end the positive end has a nub or bump. D cell batteries, wooden matchstick for scale.Ī D battery ( D cell or IEC R20) is a standardized size of a dry cell.

D battery mah